By Martha Taumata Faavae
The General Secretary of the Congregational Christian Church, EFKS, angrily refused response to public claims of blatant calls by church ministers to congregation members to vote against the present Government.
Reverend Vavatau Taufao, lashed out heatedly at the alleged claims that there are confirmed instances of Reverend Elders of the church urging EFKS followers to vote for candidates of the FAST coalition political party.
“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t respond to stupid fools,” Rev. Taufao raged in a telephone interview with Newsline Samoa.
The EFKS General Secretary continued his angry reaction when asked for an official position of the church on the issue of the separation of politics and religion.
Rev. Taufao was told of confirmed cases in villages of church ministers who are going out campaigning for the election downfall of the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his ruling Human Rights Protection Party , HRPP.
“ I’m not going to respond to any of that except to say that people who are saying that are fools and I don’t talk to stupid people.”
The EFKS is the leading religious denomination in Samoa but it is no longer as dominant as it was when it made up more than 50 per cent of the population around the 1960s
The Church of the Latter Day Saints has made notable strides to take over third place after the Catholic Church and the EFKS with the most number of followers converted to the faith.
Head of the LDS Church in Samoa, Sapele Fa’alogo gave full assurance of the neutral position of the church in the upcoming general elections in Samoa.
He went over the strict rules that are fully documented in the church mission to preach the gospel of Jesus and not to elect politicians.
The church policy rules stated that it “…does not: Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
“Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes.
“Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes to. “
The policy further stated that it also “…applies to whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader.”
The Catholic Church also keeps well away from any political involvement of the clergy or members of the faith on the issue of church and state.
Church spokesman, Father Lui Sanele, said the teachings of the church in the matter of politics and religion are clear.
“ The choice of political support is a personal matter for the individual, we as leaders of the faith have nothing to do with a person’s decision on who or what they agree with or want to vote for,” Father Lui responded.
“We support whichever Government is in power as it is with the HRPP now unless a new political party takes over as Government and we give them our support.
‘Anything to do with the Government of the day and the role they play has the support of the church.”
Father Lui was also very firm that anyone who has taken holy vows to serve God must renounce those vows and go run as a candidate for the general elections if they want to take up politics.
“You cannot serve two Gods at the same time and that means ; ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
Father Lui said the church has advised members of the clergy in the village parishes to keep to the work of the Lord and to avoid politics in normal affairs of the church congregation.
“We want to keep the peace and harmony in our church flock rather than end up divided after the general elections.
“ We value our church members and the name of the church that it is not tarnished by any political fallout.”
The National Council of Churches that serves as the bridging link between the Christian churches in Samoa are continuing to call for the country to keep the faith and maintain the peace going into the general elections.
The NCC President Rev. Kasiano Leaupepe leads the call for calm as party loyalties are whipped into a frenzy by election campaigning inside the country and also from outside.
“So much are being said as part of political campaigning by parties to win the support of the voters whether true or not,” Rev. Leaupepe worried.
“Our duty as church leaders is to encourage praying and fasting for everyone so they are not easily misled by the election promises but to be led by divine guidance to elect the right leaders.”
Rev. Leaupepe reminded that all success comes from the presence of God.
